American Alex Ferreira wins first Olympic gold in freeski halfpipe

Ferreira, 31, finally captures the gold medal after taking silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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After over a decade of trying, American freeskier Alex Ferreira, 31, won his first Olympic gold medal in the men's freeski halfpipe competition at the 2026 Winter Games in Livigno, Italy. Ferreira had previously won silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022 before finally capturing the top spot on the podium.

Why it matters

The halfpipe event has been dominated by American freeskiers in recent Olympics, with David Wise winning gold in 2014 and 2018 before Nico Porteous of New Zealand took the title in 2022. Ferreira's gold medal win returns the event to American control and continues the country's freeski halfpipe legacy.

The details

Ferreira won the gold medal with a third and final run worth 93.75 points, edging out 19-year-old Estonian Henry Sildaru who took silver. Canadian Brendan Mackay won the bronze medal, pushing American Nick Goepper off the podium. Goepper was going for his fourth career Olympic medal but crashed on his final run.

  • Ferreira won silver in the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.
  • Ferreira won bronze in the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
  • Ferreira won gold in the 2026 Livigno Olympics.

The players

Alex Ferreira

A 31-year-old American freeskier who won his first Olympic gold medal in the men's halfpipe competition at the 2026 Winter Games in Livigno, Italy.

Henry Sildaru

A 19-year-old Estonian freeskier who won the silver medal in the men's halfpipe competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Brendan Mackay

A Canadian freeskier who won the bronze medal in the men's halfpipe competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Nick Goepper

An American freeskier who was going for his fourth career Olympic medal but crashed on his final run and finished off the podium.

David Wise

An American freeskier who won gold in the halfpipe event when it was introduced at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and again in 2018.

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What they’re saying

“He said he needed to finish the rainbow. He had the silver, the bronze and he needed the gold.”

— Colleen Ferreira, Alex Ferreira's mother

What’s next

Ferreira will look to defend his Olympic gold medal at the 2030 Winter Games.

The takeaway

Alex Ferreira's gold medal win in the freeski halfpipe event continues the United States' dominance in the discipline and caps off his quest to complete the Olympic medal set after previously winning silver and bronze.